The Long and Short of it is....

We get to have more tests! The nephrologist was not overwhelmed with the ultrasound report if everything else checks out....if it does, we are good for a year at which time we will redo the ultrasound and labs. Her blood pressure was high today but he thinks it is may be rebounding from some medication she is taking. She has already been without it for 2 days and he wants her off a few more to see if it comes down. Blood pressure and renal function go together. Bad kidneys produce high blood pressure and high blood pressure damages kidneys. So we will follow that. If it is the same or still a little high, we will probably still be able to watch it for another year. God gives us just what we need....a year ought to do it!

Today she had a list of blood work...everything you want to know about kidney health...and a urine culture. She is scheduled for a VCG (voiding cystourethrogram) on Friday which will check for reflux into the kidneys. If she passes the tests, we are good for the year. If she fails any of the above, I don't know what we will have to do. We will cross that bridge when we get there. If she has mild reflux, she will probably do prophylactic antibiotics until she doesn't have it anymore. If she has significant reflux, she will probably require surgery to correct it....prayerfully waiting until next summer. He definitely thinks the spinal cord issue needs to be taken care of. One more confirmation of "Neurosurgery...here we come and we need to come soon!" It is probably contributing to many issues. He was very happy to know she had lost somewhere between 4 and 6 pounds in the last month. She was down to 34 pounds which he says is still above her height on the growth chart so she could still lose a little and be okay.
He agrees that she needs to keep her weight down...it would not help her blood pressure or kidneys...or anything else for that matter. He saw the huge dilemma we are facing with absolutely no family history. Abandoned kids don't have access to that unfortunately...and she never will. Many of her issues are much easier to diagnose with a family history but we will just have to feel our way through it.

Tomorrow she has 3 medical appointments and a final one on Friday. Prayerfully, that will wrap it up US side of things. I will update again on Friday after her test and blood pressure check. Her labs ought to be back too so we should have answers at that time.

Blessings!
April